ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (APP): Federal Minister for SAFRON Lt. General
(Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch on Friday said Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf’s
(PTI) case on Panama Papers was very weak as evident from the criticism its lawyer Hamid Khan had to face on media.
Speaking in a private TV channel program, he said Hamid Khan could not tolerate the said criticism and had to quit from the prosecution.
The minister said the matter was pre judice so it could not be discussed on media.
He said after the Panama Papers, the prime minister wrote a letter to the Supreme Court to probe the matter, he added.
He said the government would accept the court’s verdict regarding Panama Papers case.

PESHAWAR, Nov 18 (APP): Advisor to Prime Minister, Engr Ameer Muqam Friday said that two new grid stations have been approved for Matta and Kabal and work on these projects costing Rs500 million each would be started soon.
Talking to delegations of local representatives at Swat, he said that
new feeder has been approved for Bana Mangolai while two new sub divisions for Kanju and Dewalai have been accorded. He also directed District Nazim to inaugurate these new sub divisions.
Muqam informed that establishment of 132Kv grid station for Charbagh is under consideration while work on various sui gas provision schemes is underway.
Earlier, Ameer Muqam visited residence of Tehsil Nazim Charbagh Javed
Khan and offered fateha for his nephew who killed in Hazara University.
Office bearers of PML N Swat including Qaimoos Khan, Qavi Khan, District Nazim Swat Muhammad Ali Shah were also present on the occasion.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (APP): The adaptation to climate change is of crucial importance to the whole South Asian region, home to over a billion people, where many people are living below the poverty line.
This was stated by Federal Minister for Climate Change ZahidHamid in a side event, organized on the theme ‘Adaptation to Climate Change: National and Sub national Coherence, Coordination and Cooperation at Regional Level.’
The event organised by Government of Pakistan, South Asia Cooperation Environment Programme, and Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development was chaired by the Federal Minister for Climate
Change Zahid Hamid, a press release issued here said. He said that apart from its dense population, the South Asian region is also one of the most ecologically diverse areas of the world. It has faced a multitude of climate induced disasters ranging from glacial melt, sea level rise, drought, cyclones and shifts in rain patterns, especially the monsoon rains. These disasters are not only serious threats to food and water security but they also displace the residents, creating the problem of climate refugees.
“The adverse effects of climate change are of immense concern to Pakistan. Pakistan contributes less than 1% to total annual global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, it is ranked amongst the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change”, the minister informed the participants.
He highlighted that Pakistan today faced several major risks related to climate change, including glacial melt, variable monsoons, recurrent floods, sea water intrusion, higher average temperatures and higher frequency of droughts. Millions of people are affected and colossal damage is caused on recurring basis.
“These threats pose major survival concerns for Pakistan, particularly in relation to the country’s water security, food security and energy security and have enormous adverse consequences for all socio economic sectors,” he said.
He also said that to cope with these extreme climate change impacts, Pakistan has developed comprehensive policies and plans that include both adaptation and mitigation measures. We have put in place a perspective plan called “Vision 2025”, a National Climate Change Policy and Framework for its implementation, a National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy and a National Sustainable Development Strategy.
He said that Pakistan is perhaps the first country in the world whose National Assembly passed a unanimous Resolution adopting the SDGs Agenda as its own national development agenda. Our Parliament has also become “Green” by converting to 100% solar energy.
He also told the audience: “ We will introduce in Parliament next week the historic Pakistan Climate Change Bill, which will establish a high level, policy making Pakistan Climate Change Council and the Pakistan Climate Change Authority to prepare and supervise implementation of adaptation and mitigation projects in various sectors.”
“All the provinces and regions of Pakistan will be represented on the Council. Implementation of projects will also take place through the Provincial and regional Governments. The provinces are also preparing their own Action Plans, in accordance with the National Climate Change Policy,” the minister said.
He said that the people of Pakistan have shown remarkable resilience in the face of these grave challenges and have courageously adapted to climate change. We are hopeful that with faster economic growth in coming years, especially as a result of projects such as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), economic resilience and social resilience will increase still further and help us to better cope with future threats.
“CPEC is in fact a prime example of successful South South Cooperation which can serve as a model for coordination and
cooperation at the South Asian Regional level also”, the minister said.
He said that the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction 2015 30 with its people oriented approach; the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice and tackle climate change; the Paris Agreement on Climate Change with its adaptation and mitigation measures; the World Humanitarian Summit, with its focus on global humanitarian action, and Habitat III with its emphasis on sustainable urbanization can provide valuable opportunities not only for assessment of each country’s progress in implementation of these global frameworks, but also development of regional initiatives for cooperation.
The links amongst these 5 global frameworks can provide much needed direction and momentum for South Asian cooperation at all tiers.
The other speakers were Prince Mustafa Zahir, DG of National Environment Protection Agency Afghanistan, Dashu Chenchu
Norbu, Secretary of the National Environment Commission, Bhutan,
Joke Schauliege, Minister of Environment, Nature and Agriculture.

LAHORE, Nov 18 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that the Punjab government was implementing a big programme worth billions of rupees for the supply of potable water to the masses.
He presided over a high level meeting here, which reviewed matters
regarding Punjab Water Roadmap and Solid Waste Management Roadmap.
Special representative of British Department for International Development (DFID) Sir Michael Barber gave a briefing to the meeting.
The Chief Minister said that provision of drinking water to rural
masses would be ensured under Khadim e Punjab Saaf Pani programme.
He said that Saaf Pani programme was a very important project of public welfare and had to be implemented with commitment and determination.
The Chief Minister said that potable water was right of every citizen
and Punjab Saaf Pani programme would be closely monitored.
He said that a comprehensive programme be evolved in the light of
authentic survey for the improvement of water schemes and filtration plants. He said that there was a need for reorganization of all water and sanitation agencies for their capacity building.
Shehbaz Sharif said that recruitment against technical vacancies in
these institutions and training programme of the staff be evolved with the consultation of experts.
He said that potable water was essential for saving citizens from
diseases. He said that a healthy society could be evolved by providing a clean environment to the citizens and added that there was a need for promoting public awareness about the importance of cleanliness.
He said that an effective roadmap would have to be evolved and
implemented for improvement of the affairs of solid waste management.
He said that targets would have to be achieved with hard work and a
sense of responsibility, adding that improvement in living standard of the people and provision of relief to masses was the priority of the government.
Shehbaz Sharif said that all out resources would be provided for
provision of better facilities to the citizens.
DFID representative Sir Michael Barber said that the Punjab government
had performed very well with regard to uplift of health and education sectors.
He said that DFID would work with the Punjab government also in water
sector, adding that all out cooperation would be extended to provincial government for the supply of drinking water to rural populace of Punjab.
Approval was also given on this occasion to filling approved technical
vacancies of Local Government, Public Health Engineering and TMAs as well as training programme of the staff.
Provincial Minister for Housing Tanvir Aslam Malik, Chairman Punjab
Saaf Pani Company South Muhammad Kashif MPA, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning & Development, concerned secretaries, head of DFID in Punjab Ms. Judith Herbertson and members of roadmap team attended the meeting.

PESHAWAR, Nov 18 (APP): Governor Khyber Pakthunkhwa Engr Iqbal Zafar Jhagra here Friday directed the political agents of all agencies of Fata to ensure foolproof security measures besides maintaining law and order situation on occasion of Chelum of martyrs of Karbala.
The Governor appreciated the measures taken for peaceful observance
and maintenance of law and order situation in Fata during Moharramul Haram and expressed the confidence that the atmosphere of peace and brotherhood will also be exhibited during the Chelum of martyrs of Karbala.